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MISSIONS  ON  THE  MIN 


STORY  OF  THE 
SHAO-WU  STATION 

; V FOOCHOW  MISSION,  CHINA 
i\i 


The  River  Min  below  Shao-wu 


Map  of  Shao-wu  Field 
Shao-wu  is  250  mites  tiorthiuest  of  Foochow 


SHAO-WU  MISSIONARIES,  I905 


/nbissions  on  tbe  /Ibin 


STORY  OF 

THE  SHAO-WU  STATION 

FOOCHOW  MISSION.  CHINA 


PREPARED  BY  ETHEL  D.  HUBBARD 


Number  One  in  Station  Plan  Series 


^iiuna  {Jfoplr’a  Sfpartmrnt 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions 
Congregational  House.  Boston 

1905 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/missionsonminOOhubb 


Introduction 


The  increasing  demand  of  donors  for  definite 
objects  for  support,  and  particular  information 
about  mission  work  supported,  has  led  the 
American  Board  to  adopt  the  Station  Plan. 
This  plan  involves  application  of  funds  of  any 
amount  for  the  support  of  the  native  work  and 
workers  of  a chosen  station.  No  names  of 
workers  are  given,  but  a foreign  missionary 
correspondent  is  chosen,  who  furnishes  quarter- 
ly letters  about  the  field,  the  native  laborers, 
and  the  progress  of  Christianity  within  the  field. 
The  pamphlet  contains  much  information  com- 
monly called  for  by  correspondents  in  Christian 
Endeavor  Societies,  Sunday  Schools  or  Churches. 
It  has  been  prepared  in  order  that  leaders  in 
churches  interested  in  giving  to  the  Shao-wni 
work  may  instruct  those  who  give,  and  thus 
make  giving  and  praj-ing  more  effective  in  ac- 
complishing the  evangelization  of  a large  por- 
tion of  China.  With  this  purpose  in  view,  it  is 
urged  that  this  pamphlet  be  used  in  Sunday 
Schools  and  Endeavor  Societies  contributing  to 
the  Shao-wu  fund  with  sufficient  frequency  to 
familiarize  all  with  the  names  of  the  mission- 
aries, their  faces,  and  the  leading  facts  about 
the  extensive  mission  work  being  done  by  the 
seven  men  and  women  sent  there  by  Congrega- 
tional money,  who,  with  the  faithful  band  of 
native  missionaries,  are  God’s  chosen  agents  to 
make  Christ  known  to  the  multitudes  in  that 
field. 


FACTS  ABOUT  SHAO-WU 

Figures  foi  1904 


Station  opened  .... 

1876 

Shao-wu  from  Foochow,  miles 

250 

Population  of  the  field 

1,000,000 

Out-Stations  .... 

33 

Number  of  missionaries 

7 

Native  pastors  .... 

3 

Native  preachers  .... 

24 

Native  teachers  .... 

24 

Bible  Women  .... 

6 

Other  helpers  .... 

20 

Total  native  laborers  . 

77 

Number  churches 

24 

Chapels  and  church  buildings 

23 

Communicants  .... 

653 

Adherents  ..... 

2,371 

Average  Sunday  congregations 

1,141 

Number  in  Sunday  Schools 

321 

Day  schools  .... 

22 

Pupils  in  day  schools  . 

338 

Girls’  Boarding  School,  pupils 

30 

Boys’  Boarding  School,  pupils 

26 

/iDissions  on  tbe  /iDin 


XEbe  Sbao*vvu  Station 


1.  THE  MLSSIOX 

The  Foochow  ^Mission,  of  which  the  Shao-wu  Fu-kien 
station  is  a part,  is  in  southeastern  China,  in 
the  Fu-kien  province.  The  province  includes 
53,480  square  miles,  with  a population  of  about 
twenty- two  millions. 

The  province  is  an  almost  unbroken  stretch 
of  hills  and  mountains  ; a country  abounding 
with  wild  scenery,  with  swift,  rocky  streams 
and  deep  mountain  ravines.  Thus  travelling 
becomes  excessively  difficult  and  fraught  with 
adventure.  It  would  seem  impossible  that, 
under  such  conditions,  rice  growing  should  even 
be  attempted,  yet  it  is  the  staple  product  even 
in  this  unlike h'  comer  of  China.  There  are 
rice  terraces  on  every  hill  and  mountain  follow- 
ing the  water  courses  and  the  valleys,  which 
vary  constantly  in  width.  The  people  who 
make  their  homes  in  these  valleys  present  great 
varieties  of  character  and  speech.  If  j-ou  cross 
a divide  which  separates  two  main  branches  of 
the  river,  you  may  find  people  living  within  a 
few  hours’  walk  of  each  other  who  can  scarcely 
talk  together.  Well  nigh  every  village  has  its 
local  brogue. 


8 


AfISS/O.WS  ON  THE  MIN 


Statons  The  American  Board  Mission,  called  the 
Foochotv  mission  because  its  center  is  at  the 
city  of  Foochow,  was  founded  Januar}'  2,  1847. 
It  has  five  stations  — Foochow,  Ponasang:, 
Pagoda  Anchorage,  Ing-hok  and  Shao-wu. 


SETTING  OUT  RICE 


II.  THE  STATION 

THE  NATURAL  BACKGROl'ND 

Shao-wu  is  an  inland  station  of  the  Foochow 
Mission,  quite  remote  from  the  other  four  sta- 
tions, which  are  grouped  together  in  the  south- 
eastern comer  of  the  province.  The  center  of 
the  station  is  about  250  miles  up  the  river  Min, 
northwest  from  the  capital  city  of  Foochow. 


THE  SHAO-WU  STATION 


9 


There  are  three  ways  of  travelling  from  Foo- 
chow through  that  wild  mountain  country  to 
Shao-wu.  It  is  possible  to  make  the  journey 
by  foot,  climbing  the  winding  mountain  foot- 
paths and  spending  the  nights  in  the  proverb- 
ially undesirable  Chinese  inns.  Probably  the 


HOUSE  BOAT 

Showing  Rev.  J.  E.  Walker,  the  Misses  Bement,  and  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
G.  W.  Hiuman,  formerly  connected  with  the  Station 


foreign  traveller  cannot  attain  to  the  speed  of 
the  Chinese  mail  carrier,  who  covers  the  dis- 
tance on  foot  in  seven  days.  Then  there  are 
the  sedan  chairs  for  carriages,  and  the  coolies 
who  can  be  hired  to  draw  the  traveller,  espe- 
cially if  he  consents  to  walk  up  and  down 
hill  whenever  the  courage  of  the  coolies  flags. 
The  most  common  method  of  travelling  — at 


lO 


Af/SS/OJVS  OF  THE  MIX 


once  the  most  dangeroiis  and  the  most  prac- 
tical— is  by  boat.  In  this  way  you  carrv 
your  own  bedding",  food  and  cooking"  uten- 
sils, and  thus  manag:e  to  avoid  the  Chinese 
inns.  These  boats,  however,  are  not  the 
well-known  “house  boats,”  for  these  can- 
not be  used  on  the  rapids,  and  there  are  170 
miles  of  rapids  before  reaching"  Shao-wu.  The 
boats  are  simply  the  most  primitive  Chinese 
freight  boats,  with  a bamboo  mat  for  protection 
from  the  sun  and  stom"i.  The  journey  from 
Foochow  by  this  means  requires  from  eighteen 
days  to  five  weeks,  according  to  the  condition 
of  wind  and  water  and  the  men  who  propel  the 
boat. 

Area  The  area  of  Shao-wu  Station  is  about  the 
Products  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  com- 

bined, and  the  estimated  population  1,000,000. 
Two  main  branches  of  the  River  Hin  rise  in 
this  section  of  the  province  and  form  the  main 
highways  for  commerce  and  travel  in  the  station 
field.  Anthracite  coal  is  found  in  some  of  the 
moitntains,  and  in  others  are  deposits  of  lime. 
Coal  mines  have  been  opened,  but  little  can  be 
accomplished  until  the  railroads  push  their  way 
up  into  the  mountains.  iMany  of  the  mountains 
are  covered  with  beautiful  pine  forests,  timber 
from  which  is  exported.  The  manufacture  of 
paper  entirely  by  hand,  from  bamboo  grown  on 
the  mountains,  furnishes  the  chief  occupation  of 
the  people,  and  it  is  a lucrative  industry. 

Climate  The  climate  of  Shao-wu  has  been  compared 
with  our  Florida.  In  midsummer  the  sun’s 


THE  SHAO-WU  STATION 


1 1 


rays  are  fiercely  strong",  which  means  consider- 
able danger  of  sunstroke.  There  is  but  a slight 
fall  of  snow  in  winter,  except  in  the  mountains, 
and  the  mercury  rarely  falls  below  15  degrees. 

There  is  a prevailing  dampness,  which  results 
in  nmch  sickness  on  the  plains,  but  the  moun- 
tains always  supply  a place  of  refuge  from  the 
heat. 

Wild  animals  are  not  numerous,  though  occa-  Animals 
sionally  a tiger  will  venture  even  within  the 
city  gates.  They  are  often  caught  in  pits 
and  the  bones  sold  as  the  most  effective  of 
“ strength-gdving  medicines.”  Cows  are  kept, 
not  for  milk,  but  to  work  the  fields,  buffalo 
cows  being  preferred  because  of  superior 
strength.  A few  horses  are  kept  for  riding, 
but  the  harness  is  unknown  to  them.  Each 
well-to-do  farmer  keeps  a flock  of  chickens  and 
a few  black  pigs. 

The  ^landarin  language  is  used  throughout  Language 
this  district,  with  thirty  or  forty  different  dia- 
lects or  corruptions.  One  Chinese  pastor  speaks 
seventeen  dialects,  and  yet  is  often  in  need  of 
an  interpreter  in  different  parts  of  the  district. 

THE  PEOPLE 

The  people  of  this  hill-  country  are  in  some  Conditions 
ways  superior  to  the  average  Chinese  in  their 
morals.  They  wrest  a living  from  their  rough 
hills  b\'  unremitting  toil,  and  value  everj'  cash 
and  every  grain  of  rice,  yet  they  are  hospitable 
and  even  generous.  They  differ  from  the 
people  of  Foochow  in  that  they  are  more  sturdy 


12 


M/SS/OJVS  OF  THE  MIN 


and  independent.  For  instance,  in  some  parts 
of  the  district  when  a little  company  of  believers 
has  been  gathered  together,  land  has  been 
bought  and  a considerable  sum  of  monej'  volun- 
tarily given  before  the  missionary  is  asked  for 
help.  This  is  truly  an  unusual  manifestation 
of  self -effort. 

After  the  T’ai  Ping  rebellion  the  population 


THE  SHAO-WU  WATER-WORKS  SYSTEM 


was  cut  down  by  one-half,  and  in  consequence 
the  remaining  half  are  more  prosperous  in 
their  outward  circumstances.  Yet  the  condi- 
tions of  living  are  hopelessly  distorted,  in  the 
absence  of  sanitation,  ventilation  and  proper 
clothing ; in  fact,  everything  which  is  in  har- 
mony with  the  laws  of  nature.  It  was  this 
appalling  though  unconscious  need  of  hygienic 
and  medical  help  which  formed  the  opening 


THE  SHAO-WU  STATION 


13 


wedge  for  Christian  missions.  As  in  most 
interior  stations,  the  people  were  first  fearful, 
suspicious  and  prejudiced,  but  gradually  the 
real  help  which  the  medical  missionary  could 
give  broke  down  the  barriers.  Throughout,  the 
people  of  the  Shao-wu  Station  have  shown  a 
si:riDrising  friendliness  to  foreigners. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  STATION 

This  northwestern  comer  of  Fu-kien  Pro- 
vince was  first  visited  in  1873  by  Rev.  J.  E. 
Walker  and  two  other  members  of  the  Foochow 
Mission.  Of  this  first  trip  Mr.  Walker  writes  : 
"We  entered  Hiong-ming-gaing  after  dark, 
were  refused  entrance  to  an  inn,  sat  in  an 
ancestral  hall,  gazed  at  by  an  ever-increasing 
crowd.  It  was  then  a novel  sensation  to  me  to 
have  folks  holding  a light  up  to  me  while  they 
scanned  me  over  from  head  to  foot.’’  In  1876 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Walker,  together  with  Mr. 
Blakely  and  his  family,  moved  to  Shao-wu  and 
opened  it  as  a separate  station  in  the  Foochow 
Mission.  Others  have  come  from  time  to  time, 
but  have  been  forced  to  leave  after  a short 
period,  as  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blakely,  because 
of  ill  health.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  remained 
until  her  death  in  1896,  and  Dr.  Walker  is  at 
present  in  active  service  in  the  field.  The 
name  ‘‘Walker  ” will  always  be  associated  with 
the  evangelization  of  Shao-wu.  Aged  Chinese 
pastors,  preachers  and  teachers  call  him  their 
spiritual  father,  as  in  tmth  he  is.  From  this 
great  pioneer  work,  accomplished  through  the 


Faithful 

Pioneers 


>4 


Jf/SS/OA’S  OX  THE  MIX 


Station 

City 


hardy  spirit  and  invincible  determination  of 
Dr.  "Walker,  this  remote  station  of  the  Foochow 
Mission  has  steadily  grown  in  strength  and 
capacity.  The  mission  force  has  been  greatly 
enlarged  and  the  facilities  for  practical  useful- 
ness multiplied  in  proportion  as  the  number 
of  adherents  and  believers  increased.  The 
Shao-wu  Station  is  practically  a district  mis- 
.sion,  with  great  possibilities  — some  already 
realized  — but  with  vast  opportunities  ahead. 

JIISSIONARV  HEADQUARTERS 

The  city  of  wShao-wu  is  the  center  of  mission- 
ary operations  for  the  station,  chosen,  not 
because  it  is  the  largest  cit}^  in  the  district,  but 
because  it  is  most  centrally  located.  It  is  near 
the  Bohea  ^Mountains,  where  from  East  Gate 
and  Crystal  Hill  Stations  more  than  600,000 
people  are  accessible.  Before  the  T’ai  Ping" 
rebellion  the  city  numbered  40,000  inhabitants, 
but  at  that  time  the  population  was  reduced  b}' 
one-half  and  a large  section  of  the  city  devas- 
tated. Some  parts  of  Shao-wu  City  now  re- 
semble the  ruins  of  Pompeii.  In  spite  of  the 
fact  that  the  mission  premises  were  buimed  by 
the  Boxers,  the  native  Christians  were  not 
killed,  and  there  was  a genuine  increase  of 
friendliness  when  the  missionaries  returned  to 
Shao-wu  City  in  the  following  spring. 

OUT  STATIONS 

From  the  city  of  Shao-wu  as  a kind  of  mili- 
tary center,  the  missionary  campaign  reaches 


SHAO-\VU  MISSION  RESIDENCES  ON  CRYSTAT,  HILL 


CHINESE  HOUSES 


Present 

Force 


i6  M/SSIOXS  OX  THE  MIN 

out  through  a district  which  includes  a large 
number  of  out  stations,  the  names  and  location 
of  thirty-three  of  these  being  indicated  on  the 
accompanying  map.  Some  of  the  names  of  the 
out  stations  are  most  picturesque  and  suggest 
the  wild,  untamed  beauty  of  that  land  of  moun- 
tains and  valleys.  For  example,  Yang  Ching 
K'ang,  “Ocean  Deep  Ravine”;  Kei  Ping, 
“River  Plains”;  Wii  vShih  P’ing,  “Black 
Rock  Flat  ”,  and  Uan  On  Ts'ai,  ” Fort  of  Ten 
Thousand  Ages  ' ' . 


III.  THE  MISSIONARIES 

Xt’ilBER  .\XD  XAMES 

There  are  seven  missionaries  under  appoint- 
ment at  the  present  time  in  the  Shao-wu  Sta- 
tion, Dr.  J.  E.  Walker,  the  founder  of  the 
station,  and  his  daughter,  Miss  Josephine 
Walker,  who,  after  spending  ten  years  in 
America  in  school  and  college,  returned  in 
1900  to  Shao-wu,  her  childhood  home.  Dr. 
E.  L.  Bliss  had  already  joined  the  working 
force  in  vShao-wu  in  1892.  For  twelve  years  the 
appeal  was  sounded  for  two  women  mission- 
aries, and  at  last  the  "W.  B.  IM.  I.  sent  Dr.  Lucy 
P.  Bement  and  her  sister.  Miss  Frances  K. 
Bement,  who  began  work  in  Shao-wu  in  Decem- 
ber, 1899.  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bliss  joined  the  station 
in  1902,  and  in  1904,  Rev.  C.  L.  Storrs,  Jr. 
l\Iiss  Walker  and  the  Misses  Bement  are  sup- 


THE  SHA  O-  WU  STA  TION  1 7 

IDorted  by  monej’  contributed  through  the  treas- 
ury of  the  Woman’s  Board  of  Missions  of  the 
Interior,  as  is  also  an  important  share  of  the 
native  work  and  workers. 

HOMES 

When  missionary  work  was  first  begun  in 
vShao-wu,  there  was  considerable  hostility  mani- 
fested, especially  by  the  influential  Chinese ; 
consequently  it  was  not  safe  for  the  missionaries 
to  live  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  and  they 
were  forced  for  the  sake  of  protection  to  seek 
the  thickly  settled  neighborhood.  The  first 
missionary  houses  in  vShao-wu  rvere  built  on  the 
main  street  of  the  East  Gate  suburb.  This 
was  a favorable  location  for  reaching  the 
Chinese,  but  from  a sanitary  point  of  view  it 
was  fearful.  The  little  Chinese  hovels  and 
pigpens  elbowed  each  other,  and  the  hopelessly 
unsanitary  conditions  were  fatal  to  the  health 
of  the  foreigners.  An  attempt  to  spend  one 
summer  there  resulted  in  permanent  injury 
to  the  health  of  several  missionaries. 

For  a long  time,  therefore,  there  were  no 
further  efforts  made  to  spend  the  hot  summer 
months  in  Shao-wu.  Each  year  the  mission- 
aries journeyed  down  the  River  Min  the  250 
miles  to  Foochow,  which,  owing  to  the  long- 
passage,  meant  the  loss  of  nearly  half  a year  to 
the  station  work.  To  avoid  this  waste  of  time, 
the  mission  in  1887  built  houses  on  a low  hill 
four  miles  from  Shao-wu,  where  it  was  pos- 
sible to  live  through  the  summer  and  yet  be  in 


How 
Mission- 
aries Live 


i8 


M/SS/O.VS  O.V  THE  MIN 


close  touch  with  the  native  workers.  This  was 
far  from  ideal,  however,  far  even  from  simple 
justice  to  the  missionaries,  as  it  meant  practi- 
cally no  chan.ye  or  recuperation  during:  the 
summer.  So  in  1902  a far  better  plan  was 
made  possible  by  a fortunate  discovery.  In 
their  evangelistic  tours  to  the  mountain  \nl- 
lages,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  came  upon  an 
ancient  temple  in  the  Xi-shi-tu  ^fountains, 
which  was  habitable  for  a few  weeks  in  summer. 
They  thereupon  conceived  the  idea  of  biiilding 
inexpensive  cottages  there,  and  this  plan  was 
carried  out  in  1902.  This  has  been  a boon  to 
the  missionaries,  because  the  air  is  cool  and 
bracing,  and  the  walks  and  climbs  splendid. 

As  a result  of  the  daily  contact  of  the  mis- 
sionaries with  the  Chinese  at  Shao-wu  the 
confidence  of  the  people  has  been  gained,  so 
that  now  there  is  no  opposition  to  buying 
proper!}'  wherever  the  missionaries  wish.  The 
new  residences  have  thus  had  a desirable  and 
comparatively  sanitary  location.  The  first  com- 
pound has  still  to  be  occupied  for  residence,  but 
it  is  hoped  in  the  future  it  will  be  possible  to 
give  this  over  to  native  work  and  build  a new 
residence  in  better  surrounding's. 

DIVISION'  OF  L.\BOR 

The  divisions  of  labor  fall  into  as  many 
classes  as  there  are  missionaries  to  care  for 
them.  The  evangelistic  work  of  the  station  is 
in  charge  of  Dr.  Walker  himself,  who,  for  more 
than  thirty  years  has  travelled  over  the  moun- 


THE  SHAO-WU  STATION 


!9 


tains  or  followed  the  River  ]\Iin  in  the  effort  to 
reach  fanners,  mountaineers,  traders,  boatmen, 
soldiers,  literati,  g'entry,  and  bring  to  them  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  The  educational  work  includes 
the  bo\'s’  schools,  under  the  charge  of  Dr. 
"Walker  and  Mr.  Storrs,  and  the  girls’  boarding 
school,  under  the  direction  of  Miss  Frances 
Bement  and  ^liss  Josephine  Walker.  The 
medical  work  for  men  has  been  carried  on  since 
1892  by  Dr.  Bliss,  and  the  medical  work  for 
women  is  in  charge  of  Dr.  Lucy  P.  Bement. 
This  band  of  men  and  women  is  thiis  a strongly 
organized  working  force,  working  along  the 
established  lines  of  evang'elical,  medical  and 
educational  effort,  yet  perpetually  beating' 
out  new  tracks  in  the  unexplored  region  of 
130ssibilities. 


IV.  THE  NATIVE  FORCE 

The  native  force  of  the  station  has  embraced  Trained 
three  pastors, twenty-four  unordained  preachers,  Leaded 
eighteen  school  teachers  (men),  six  school 
teachers  (women),  six  Bible  women  and  twenty 
other  helpers,  making  in  all  seventy-seven 
specially  employed  native  workers.  "When  it 
is  remembered  that  nearly  all  this  force  of 
native  helpers  was  trained  by  the  little  group  of 
missionaries  in  Shao-wu  City,  the  practical  value 
of  the  missionary  organization  is  made  emphatic. 

Each  missionary  conducts  a more  or  less  formal 
training  school  along  his  particular  line  of 


NATIVi:  rui'.ACIllCUS  ()!■  SHAG  wu 


THE  SHAO-IVU  STATION 


21 


^vork.  For  example,  Dr.  Walker  has  all  along: 
had  a small-sized  theological  seminar}-,  which 
has  equipped  twelve  Chinese  pastors  for  the 
native  churches  ; while  i\Iiss  Walker  has  in 
recent  years  trained  the  Bible  women,  and  the 
boarding'  and  day  schools  have  equipped  the 
teachers.  Thus  the  small  foreig'n  force  at 
Shao-wu,  throug^h  its  efficient  Chinese  helpers 
— and  this  means  not  only  a general  but  a 
direct  supervision  of  work  — reaches  a territory 
about  five  hundred  times  the  size  of  an  Amer- 
ican city  parish.  The  native  pastorate  has  been 
called  the  “ finest  and  most  effective  work  ” on 
the  mission  field  of  China. 


V.  METHODS  AND  EQUIPMENT 

EVANGELISTIC 

As  has  been  seen,  the  three  large  divisions  of 
missionary  activity  in  this  station  are  evangel- 
istic, medical,  educational.  Under  these  sub- 
divisions the  work  is  apportioned  to  the  different 
missionaries  according  to  capacity  and  training. 

The  definitely  evangelistic  work  has  for  the  Touring 
last  thirty  years  not  only  been  directed  but 
actually  accomplished  by  Dr.  Walker.  To  him 
is  due  in  large  measure  the  wonderful  success 
of  the  station.  Until  Rev.  C.  L.  Storrs  went 
to  the  field,  in  1904,  Dr.  Walker  was  the  only 
ordained  missionary  in  the  entire  station.  It 
is  thrilling  to  follow  in  imagination  that  hardy 


22 


M/SS/OA'S  O.Y  THE  MIN 


The 

Mother 

Church 


pioneer  as  he  has  toured  from  out  station  to 
out  station,  climbing’  the  hig-h  mountains  and 
crossing-  the  valley’s  and  plains,  all  in  his 
unwearying-  effort  to  preach  Christ  to  that 
million  of  people.  For  the  last  two  years  the 
greater  part  of  the  touring  has  been  done  by 
the  women  of  the  station.  In  1903,  Dr.  Bement 
and  her  sister  spent  ninet\--four  days  touring, 
in  addition  to  their  other  work.  jMiss  Walker 
writes  : ‘ ‘ During-  the  year  while  I was  touring 

I travelled  2,117  Chinese  miles  (over  700  Eng- 
lish miles)  and  visited  twenty-seven  of  our 
chapels  and  schools.” 

Dr.  Walker’s  organizing  work  has  meant  the 
founding  of  East  Gate  Chapel  in  Shao-wu  City, 
the  mother  church  of  the  station,  and  in  the 
progress  of  the  years  the  establishment  one  by 
one  of  the  out  station  chapels.  A splendid 
interest  has  been  manifested  by  the  native 
Christians  in  providing  themselves  with  places 
of  worship.  In  one  year  nine  out  stations  put 
forth  effort  in  this  direction.  In  1903  a call 
went  out  for  a new  church  at  North  Gate, 
which  met  with  a prompt  response.  Through- 
out the  whole  year  the  girls  in  the  school  had 
continued  to  pray  for  the  people  at  and  near 
the  North  Gate,  praying  also  that  a chapel 
might  be  built  where  these  people  could  be 
gathered  to  hear  the  word  of  God.  The  girls 
were  not  able  of  themselves  to  give  large  sums, 
but  through  their  efforts,  and  in  answer  to 
their  prayers,  the  neat  brick  chapel  at  North 
Gate,  which  easily  seats  three  hundred,  was 


THE  SHAO-WU  MISSION 


23 


built  with  almost  no  foreig'n  help.  The  church  East 
was  organized  with  sixteen  members,  and  in-  chifrch 
creased  by  five  or  six  each  communion.  East 
Gate  Church,  in  Shao-wu,  the  first  church,  is 
entireh"  supported  by  the  Chinese.  The  pastor, 

Rev.  jMr.  Ian,  is  consulted  in  matters  pertain- 


PASTOR  TAX  AND  FA.MILY 
First  ordaiucd  pastor  of  Shao-wu 


ing  to  the  growth  of  the  younger  churches  in 
many  parts  of  the  field.  A member  of  this 
church  gave  $200  for  the  help  of  the  theological 
class,  and  at  another  time  $80  to  help  open  and 
sustain  work  in  a village  fifty  miles  away. 
Dr.  Walker,  in  his  report  for  1904,  saj's  that  : 


24 


J//SS/OA'S  O.V  THE  MIX 


Hospital 

Work 


“ There  has  been  a decided  increase  in  the 
number  of  adherents,  and  a fair  increase  in  the 
number  of  members.” 

MEDICAL 

The  medical  work  of  the  station  has  two 
quite  distinct  departments,  the  Hospital  and 
Dispensary  for  men,  in  charge  of  Dr.  Bliss,  and 
the  Women’s  Medical  Work,  in  charge  of  Dr. 
Bement.  The  new  hospital  for  men  is  located 
at  East  Gate,  and  represents  an  increasingly 
strong  work,  verj-much  handicapped,  however, 
by  insufficient  appropriations.  In  spite  of  the 
fact  that  Dr.  Bliss  has  had  extra  duties,  such 
as  the  superintendence  of  building,  and  the 
responsibility  of  station  treasurer,  yet  he  has 
carried  on  a \ugorous  hospital  work,  as  well  as 
house  visits  and  the  training  of  his  young  med- 
ical students.  In  one  recent  year,  the  record 
for  Hospital  and  Dispensarj^  treatment  was  as 


follows  ; 

Hospital  In-patients  - . . 6i 

Dispensary’  new  patients  . . 1,971 

Dispensary  return  visits  . . 4,563 

Total  Dispensary’  . . 6,534 


“ The  months  of  August  and  September,” 
the  report  reads,  “ were  spent  in  the  Ni-shi-tu 
mountains,  and  there  about  1,000  patients  were 
treated,  either  at  Dr.  Bliss’s  cottage  or  at  their 
homes.  Some  travelled  more  than  a day’s 
journey  and  took  lodging  near  by,  that  they 


THE  SHAO-WU  STATION 


25 


might  receive  prolonged  treatment.  The  pro- 
gram for  each  day  includes  first  a short  Gospel 
Service  held  in  the  waiting-room  of  the  hos- 
pital, then  the  Dispensary  hours,  from  10  A.  M. 
to  1 p.  M.,  when  it  is  planned  to  treat  less 
important  diseases.  In  the  afternoon  the  Hos- 
pital Evangelist  talks  to  the  patients  in  the 
wards  and  teaches  them  Bible  truths.  The 
in-patients  average  more  than  ten  days  in  the 
hospital,  so  that  thus  a splendid  opportunity  is 
given  for  direct  evangelizing. 

‘ ‘ A statement  of  the  actual  amount  of  money 
received  for  this  splendid  medical  work  among 
men  reveals  an  alarming  need.  In  the  year 
1904,  the  money  received  was  as  follows  : 

Appropriation  from  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  . . $144.40 
From  fees  and  sale  of  medicine  . . . 195.00 

^5339-40 

This  allows  an  average  expenditure  of  four 
cents  per  treatment,  including  wages  of  assist- 
ant, food  and  coolie,  which  of  course  is  hope- 
lessly inadequate.” 

The  headquarters  of  the  medical  work  of  the 
Woman’s  Board  of  Missions  for  the  Interior  in 
the  Shao-wu  prefecture  was  moved  into  the 
city  in  February,  1902,  although  the  Dispensary 
was  not  finished  until  the  beginning  of  1903. 
During  the  previous  year,  patients  were  seen  in 
an  old  Chinese  house,  afterward  used  for  the 
Girls’  School.  Then  a woodshed  was  first 
built,  back  of  what  was  intended  for  the  dis- 
pensary, and  used  for  several  months,  until  one 


Economical 

Service 


Medical 
Work  for 
Women 


26 


Af/SS/OJ\'S  O.V  THE  MIN 


room  of  the  new  dispensary  was  enclosed  and 
roofed  over,  and  thus  made  available  for  use. 
The  usual  daily  program  provides  for  dispen- 
sary work  in  the  forenoon,  lea^'ing  the  after- 
noon free  for  calls  at  patients’  homes,  either  in 
the  city  or  in  the  neighboring  \'illages.  In  the 
dispensary  a Bible  woman  talks  informally  to 
the  waiting  women  until  enoiigh  have  gathered, 
when  a short  Gospel  service  is  held.  Dr. 
Bement  has  spent  a number  of  weeks  each  year 
touring,  thus  reaching  many  of  the  out  stations. 
This  has  meant  travelling  almost  daily  from 
daylight  to  dark,  going  as  far  as  the  coolies 
could  carry  her,  and  walking  what  she  could 
besides,  as  well  as  nights  spent  either  in  the 
Chinese  inns  or  some  little  hovel.  Notwith- 
standing the  numerous  hindrances  and  inter- 
ruptions, Dr.  Bement  was  able  in  one  year  to 
treat  six  thousand  patients,  which  is  a magnifi- 
cent record. 


Day 

Schools 


EDUCATIONAL 

The  number  of  day  schools  in  Shao-wu  Station 
is  over  twenty,  including  two  for  women.  In 
Shao-wu  citj'  are  the  two  oldest  and  most 
important  schools  of  the  station,  the  Boys’ 
Boarding  School  and  the  Girls’  Boarding 
School,  each  equipped  at  last  with  a much- 
Boys’  needed  new  building.  Formerly  the  twenty- 
six  boys  lived  in  a small  wooden  house,  using 
the  ground  floor  for  a schoolroom,  which  was 
so  small  it  would  scarcely  seat  them  all.  After 
repeated  failures  to  obtain  help  from  America 


High 

School 


THE  SHAOWU  STATION 


27 


to  erect  a new  building,  the  boys  themselves 
went  over  the  whole  station  stating  the  need, 
and  winning  by  way  of  response  on  the  part  of 
the  churches  and  chapels  over  $1,000  silver. 
This  praiseworthy  effort  brought  the  remaining 
necessary  funds  from  America,  and  the  new 
building  is  at  last  a reality.  Miss  Walker  has 
had  the  general  oversight  of  the  school  in  con- 


A SHAO-WU  FROLIC 

nection  with  her  father,  and  has  done  some 
teaching,  aided  by  IMrs.  Bliss  and  a graduate  of 
Foochow  College.  ^lany  of  the  boys  are  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  and  almost  all  are  connected 
with  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society. 

The  Girls’  Boarding  School  has  been  in 
charge  of  Miss  Bement,  and  has  numbered 
about  thirty  pupils.  The  new  building,  called 
the  Elizabeth  vSheldon  Lombard  School  for 


Girls’ 

Boarding 

School 


28 


Af/SS/O.VS  O.V  THE  MIN 


District 

Schools 


Girls,  has  meant  a splendid  stimulus  to  the 
work.  One  telling:  feature  of  the  school  life 
has  been  the  weekly  visiting  days,  at  which 
times  over  2,000  heathen  women  have  visited 
the  school.  On  each  occasion,  special  meetings 
have  been  held,  and  in  some  instances  visits  in 
return  have  been  made  by  Miss  Bement.  This 
has  meant  an  unusual  opening  for  bringing  the 
Bible  story  to  the  more  inaccessible  women  of 
that  vast  district.  The  far-reaching  value  of 
these  boarding  schools,  which  are  really  homes 
for  the  boys  and  girls,  cannot  be  measured. 
The  Home  School  is  really  the  very  heart  of 
the  missionary  scheme. 

Twelve  of  the  more  distant  day  schools,  and 
the  two  schools  for  women  have  been  under  the 
care  of  Miss  Walker.  One  of  these  schools  has 
been  entirely  self-supporting.  The  nearer  seven 
schools  have  been  under  Miss  Bement’ s direc- 
tion. The  progress  along  this  line  of  work  has 
been  somewhat  uneven,  owing  to  the  difficulties 
of  regular  siipervision,  and  the  scarcity  of  well- 
trained  teachers.  Nevertheless,  this  is  an 
absolutely  essential  work,  and  one  which  prom- 
ises splendidly  for  the  future. 

In  addition  to  these  regailarly  established 
lines  of  educational  work.  Miss  Walker  conducts 
station  classes  for  women,  which  are  far-reaching 
in  results.  There  is  imperative  need  for  a 
kindergarten,  as  the  children  throng  the  mission 
compound  in  rainy  as  well  as  fair  days,  and  a 
wonderful  opportunity  is  thus  opened  unsought. 
This  well  organized  and  growing  educational 


THE  EHAOHVU  ST  AT/ON 


29 


work  presents  almost  every  sort  of  possibility  in 
the  way  of  development. 

EXPENSES  OF  THE  STATION 

The  Foochow  Mission  asked  from  the  Cong-re- 
gational  churches  of  the  United  States  for  this 
great  station  the  sum  of  $6,780  for  1905. 


A SHAO-WU  r.AKV  CARRIAGE 

They  requested  the  Woman’s  Board  of  Mis- 
sions of  the  Interior  to  provide  $1,945  of  this 
sum,  and  the  American  Board  $4,835.  This 
was  to  cover  the  cost  of  seven  missionaries, 
touring,  native  preachers,  educational  and  med- 
ical work,  buildings,  and  all  incidental  ex- 
penses. The  salaries  were  granted,  but  only 
about  fifty  per  cent,  of  what  was  asked  for  the 
general  work  of  all  the  stations  of  the  Board 


BOATS  USED  IN  GOING  TO  SHAO-WU 


THE  SI/AO-WH  S TATI  OH 


31 


for  last  year  could  be  granted,  to  the  serious  — 
and  almost  calamitous  — limitation  of  the  en- 
tire enteriDrise.  Additional  subscriptions  of  at 
least  $1,000  are  still  required  to  cover  the  actual 
appropriations  for  Shao-\vu.  It  is  highly  desir- 
able also  that  all  gifts  be  considered  as  annual 
pledges  or  subscriptions  for  not  less  than  three 
years,  and  that  donors  to  the  Station  Plan  fund 
for  Shao-wu  hold  themselves  read}'  to  meet  any 
advance  in  appropriation  that  may  be  made  by 
the  Board  in  the  future.  It  should  be  noted 
that  only  that  part  of  the  expense  of  any  station 
borne  b}'  appropriation  from  the  treasury  of  the 
American  Board  proper  is  included  under  the 
Station  Plan.  All  remittances  should  be  made 
payable  to  Frank  H.  AViggin,  treasurer,  and 
forwarded  to  the  Board  Rooms  direct  or  through 
one  of  the  district  secretaries. 

THE  NEEDS 

The  appeal  of  the  Shao-wu  station  lies  in  the 
intense  reality  of  its  work,  as  is  always  true  on 
the  Foreign  Field.  The  wild  natural  beaut}'  of 
the  region  forms  not  only  a picturesque  back- 
ground, but  is  a vital  part  of  the  missionar}'’s 
life,  because  it  determines  his  manner  of  life 
and  methods  of  activity,  and  sometimes  it 
limits  his  usefulness.  At  the  present  time,  for 
this  ver}'  reason,  there  is  urgent  need  for 
another  ordained  missionary,  because  Dr. 
AValker,  after  his  thirty  years  of  touring  and 
hardship,  is  naturally  uneqrial  to  further  effort 
of  this  kind.  Rev.  C.  L.  Storrs  has  thus  far 


Ordained 

Men 


32 


Af/SS/O.VS  OJV  THE  MIN 


'Teacher 


Houses 


Other 

Needs 


Our 

Respon- 

sibility 


thrown  his  energy  into  the  Boys’  School,  and  in 
the  first  great  essential,  the  learning  of  the  two 
languages.  Another  ordained  man  is  an  imme- 
diate necessity,  in  order  that  a year  or  two 
hence  that  vast  field,  with  its  thirty-three  out 
stations,  may  have  comparatively  thorough 
supervision. 

A woman  missionary  would  be  eagerly  wel- 
comed in  the  Shao-wu  station,  to  be  associated 
with  ^liss  Walker  in  the  schools.  The  actual 
working  power  of  the  missionary-  force  is  re- 
stricted by  the  lack  of  suitable  homes  for  the 
missionaries  themselves.  A house  for  Dr. 
Bliss  is  a crying  need.  When  it  becomes  neces- 
sary for  Dr.  Bliss  and  ^Ir.  Storrs  to  leave  the 
Women’s  Dispensary,  where  they  are  living 
temporarily-,  there  is  no  place  for  them  to  go 
except  an  old  shell  of  a building,  pronounced 
uninhabitable  y-ears  ago,  and  since  then  almost 
destroy-ed  by-  the  Boxers.  Land  has  already- 
been  purchased  as  a site  for  these  much-needed 
houses,  but  the  money-  is  not  y-et  available.  As 
has  been  seen,  the  splendid  medical  work  is 
very-  much  handicapped  by  insufficient  appro- 
priations. An  increase  of  at  least  $500  is  an  im- 
perative necessity-  for  the  medical  department. 

There  are  then  these  evident,  insistent  needs, 
and  how  shall  they-  be  answered  ? We  have 
followed  in  imagination  the  little  group  of  mis- 
sionaries, as  they  travel  over  those  moiintain 
foot-paths  or  labor  daily-  in  the  station  schools, 
hospitals  and  churches,  all  in  the  inspiring 


THE  SHAO-IVU  STATIOX 


33 


effort  to  bring  the  transforming  Bible  story  to 
those  lives  which  are  so  woefully  in  need.  May 
the  vivid,  even  dramatic,  reality  of  their  lives, 
arouse  in  us  an  equal  reality  of  prayer  and 
giving  — perchance  of  going  ! 


QUESTIONS  FOR  STUDY 

Aim.  — To  get  a vivid  conception  of  the  situation  at 
Shao-wu,  and  thus  to  estimate  the  possible  future  devel- 
opments of  the  Station. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  In  what  ways  would  the  natural  background  de- 

termine ; a.  The  character  and  manner  of  life 
of  the  people?  b.  The  manner  of  life  and 
methods  of  activity  of  the  missionary  ? 

2.  What  spirit  would  prompt  pioneer  work  such  as 

Dr.  Walker  accomplished? 

3.  Outline  the  growth  of  the  station  equipment. 

4.  Into  what  divisions  does  missionary  work  naturally 

fall,  and  why? 

5.  Tell  what  you  can  of  the  personnel  of  the  mission. 

6.  Estimate  the  actual  and  possible  power  of  the  native 

force. 

7.  Imagine  yourself  an  Evangelistic  missionary  living 

in  Shao-wu  city  ; a.  What  would  be  your  typical 
daily  program  ? b.  What  would  be  your  burden 
of  responsibility? 

8.  Describe  a day  in  the  Shao-wu  hospitals,  and  esti- 

mate the  probable  results. 

9.  Why  is  the  Home  School  called  the  “ heart  of  the 

missionary  scheme,”  or  is  it  thus  rightly  called? 

10.  If  it  were  in  your  power  to  relieve  one  of  the  needs 

enumerated  in  the  concluding  paragragh,  which, 
one  would  you  choose? 

1 1.  Does  the  appeal  of  the  Shao-wu  Station  arouse  any 

sense  of  responsibility  in  you,  and  if  so,  how  do- 
you  intend  to  meet  it? 


1 


a 


